October 15, 2020 - 6:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

10 613 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners October 15 , 2020 6 00 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special session Thursday , October 15 , 2020 at 6 00 pm in the Old Superior Courtroom Courtroom No 4 at the Johnston County Courthouse , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman Ted G Godwin , Vice Chairman Chad M Stewart , Jeffrey P Carver , Larry Wood , Tony Braswell , Patrick E Harris , and RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , Clerk to the Board Paula G Woodard , Finance Officer and Assistant County Manager J Chad McLamb , Paralegal Deputy Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington , and Attorney Chip Hewett representing the County Chairman Ted G Godwin called the meeting to order at 6 00 pm and the following business was transacted 1 Public Hearing – CDBG – Coronavirus Proposed Application Submittal Advertised – The News & Observer Friday Zone Edition – October 9 , 2020 ; The Johnstonian News and The News in Review – October 7 , 2020 Chairman Ted G Godwin opened the public hearing Grants Consultant Skip Green stated the purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on the County submitting a 900,000 State’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program – Coronavirus CDBG - CV application to the Rural Economic Development Division , North Carolina Department of Commerce for funding consideration Mr Green reported the State began receiving applications for the funding on September 1 , 2020 and the funds are being awarded on a first come first serve basis Mr Green stated the funding requires two public hearings ; a general hearing , which the County held in July of 2020 and a second hearing specific to how the County proposes to use any funds awarded Mr Green explained that the Johnston County Department of Social Services DSS is currently operating subsistence programs that assist US citizens or qualified immigrants living in Johnston County that meet 200 Federal Poverty Level Gross Income Requirements Mr Green reported the proposed CDBG - CV application , subject to Board review and approval , requests 880,000 in grant funds to provide public service activities that expand the amount and types of subsistence payments being offered by DSS to include utilities , heating fuel , water bills and rent mortgage payments due to the adverse impact of COVID - 19 He stated the funds would be disbursed by DSS since they already have experience and processes in place to assist families with this type of assistance Mr Green explained that the maximum assistance would be up to six months and not exceed 2,000 per family He noted safeguards would be established in the application process to ensure that the funds are not duplicating any other assistance the families may be receiving Mr Green also noted that direct payments would not be sent to the families , but rather to the utility or lender from which the payments are due Mr Green stated the application also requests 20,000 to be used toward CDBG - CV program administration He offered to answer any questions by the Board The Chairman asked if anyone present wished to speak to come forward There being no comments by anyone present , Chairman Godwin stated the County had received an e - mail from Citizen Shannon Petersen of 227 Christenbury Lane , Clayton , expressing concerns as to how the funds would be spent if awarded Chairman Godwin read from the e - mail in which Mr Petersen states that while he supports the grant , he would like for the people to be assured that the County will use the funding to benefit the citizens of Johnston County instead of towards County government expenditures such as salaries for employees At the request of the Chairman , County Manager Rick Hester stated with regards to previous COVID - 19 related funds received by the County , there were several ways that counties could use those funds and the rules in the beginning were changing on a daily basis Mr Hester stated one of the ways that it was clear that counties could use those funds was to cover salaries for public safety and public health employees for COVID - 19 related work Mr Hester stated he wanted to make it clear that no employee was paid double Page614 October 15 , 2020 – 6 00 pm Continued There being no further comments or e - mailed written comments received , the Chairman closed the public hearing Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board adopted the following resolution authorizing the submittal of the grant application JOHNSTON COUNTY RESOLUTION APPLICATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CORONAVIRUS CDBG - CV PROGRAM FUNDING FOR JOHNSTON COUNTY DSS COVID SUBSISTENCE PAYMENT RELIEF PROGRAM WHERAS , the Johnston County Board of Commissioners Board of County Commissioners has previously indicated its desire to assist in small business and economic recovery , as well as , providing public space for its citizens to safely use ; and WHEREAS , the Board of County Commissioners has held two public hearings concerning the CDBG program and the proposed application for North Carolina Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus CDBG - CV funding to benefit its low and moderate income citizens impacted by COVID - 19 ; and WHEREAS , the Board of County Commissioners wishes the County to pursue a formal application for North Carolina Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus CDBG - CV to benefit low to moderate income citizens ; and WHEREAS , the Board of County Commissioners certifies it will meet all federal regulatory and statutory requirements of the State of North Carolina Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus CDBG - CV program NOW , THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners that The County is authorized to submit a formal application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division REDD for approval of a Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus CDBG - CV Ted G Godwin , Chairman and successors so titled , is hereby authorized to execute and submit a formal application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for approval of a Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus CDBG - CV Ted G Godwin , Chairman and successors so titled , is hereby authorized and directed to furnish such information as the North Carolina Department of Commerce may request in connection with an application or with the project proposed ; to make assurances as contained in the application ; and to execute such other documents as may be required in connection with the application th Adopted this the 15 day of October , 2020 in Smithfield , North Carolina 2 Legislative Goals for the NC Association of County Commissioners Chairman Ted G Godwin stated the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners solicits input from counties with regards to legislative goals Chairman Godwin asked if any Commissioner had anything they would like to submit Following discussion , it was the consensus of the Board to submit the following five legislative goals ? Allow counties to utilize impact fees ; ? Broadband connectivity ; ? Increase the funding formula for special needs children ; ? Statewide education bonds ; and ? Reinstate the full allocation to counties of the Education Lottery FundsPage615 October 15 , 2020 – 6 00 pm Continued There being no further business , Commissioner Chad M Stewart moved the Board adjourn Commissioner Tony Braswell seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 6 15 pm Ted G Godwin , Chairman Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the BoardPage